Top 10 States with the Cheapest In-State Public College Tuition

When it comes to paying for college, public colleges often offer the most affordable tuition prices. Some states, however, offer better deals than others.

Elizabeth Hoyt

January 26, 2017

You’ve likely read that several states are exploring the idea of free higher education, the chances of that being passed in time to affect your college tuition prices is unlikely – especially when you’re looking to attend colleges within the next year or so.

These initiatives are great and, hopefully, will benefit students for years to come. But, you still need to pay tuition and you need solutions you can utilize now to help you do so.

When it comes to paying for college, public colleges often offer the most affordable tuition prices. Some states, however, offer better deals than others. Remember, public colleges are usually the better deal for in-state students. For students looking to go to school out-of-state, the tuition prices can become a bit steeper (as you’ll see in the data below).

If you’re lucky enough to reside within one of the following ten states, it’s definitely worth it to check out their public colleges because they offer the least expensive tuition within the country for in-state students.

Below, discover which states boast the lower tuition rates, along with the average in-state tuition and fees. Plus, you can also compare that to prices of average out-of-state tuition and fees within each of those same states.

According to data from The College Board , the following states have the cheapest public college tuition for in-state students:

10. Mississippi

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,410Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $20.260

9. North Carolina

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,200Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $23,750

8. Alaska

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,130Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $23,750

7. Idaho

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,010Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $20,720

6. Nevada

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,910Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $20,720

5. New Mexico

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,620Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $19,050

4. Utah

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,580Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $19,840

3. Montana

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,410Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $22,100

2. Florida

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,360Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $21,570

1. Wyoming

Average in-state tuition and fees: $5,060Average out-of-state-tuition and fees: $16,220

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